Field-pence



D. s. HUM'PHREY, or EAST TOWNSEND. oHIo". Letters Patent No. I3,0I1, daten? Jamtarg/ 7, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIELD-FENCE.

T O ALL WHOM I'I MAY CON CERN:

Be it known that I, D. S. HUMPHREY, of East Townsend, in the county of Huron, and State of Ohio, have invented certainvnew and useful Improvements in Field-Fences; and I do'hereby declare that the following is a vfull and complete description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making apart of this specification, in whi'ch- Y Figure 1 is a-side View ofthe fence.

Figure 2 is a top View.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the views.

`This fence c'onsists'ot the posts A A, fig. 1,-which are set in the ground in thc ordinary way, and at distances varying from twenty te forty feet. 'To these posts are secured, in parallel lines, two or Amore vWires, B, by means ofa hook spike, C, which, on being driven into'the post,clamps the wire as would a staple, and thereby holds it firmly and securely in place. To these wires are attached light pickets or slats v1 by the employmentofa similar spike to that used in fastening tliewirc to the posts. These spikes are rst partially driven into the pickets at the proper place, which are then hung upon the wires the required distance apart. The spike is then driven in up to the-head or hook, and then clinched down upon the opposite side. By this means thepicket is easily, neatly, and securely fixed to the Wires, as shown in iig. 1, and in which it will be seen that long and vshort pickets may be used alternately with each other. `llVhenApi-ckets of unequal'length are used, three WiresI are needed, as shown at A. This style of fence makes a close bottom with a light, open top. For pickets of equal length'two wiresonly are needed, as shown at B', unless-the'fence is required to be of unusual strength, in which case three wires may be used, as shown at C1. Y

If the posts are set long distances apart, it is proposed to support the fence between them, by allowing one or more of the slats to descend to the ground, and rest upon stones or blocks of Wood, and thereby sustain the Weight of the fence between the posts. 1

When the line of fence is completed, one or more furrows of earth are turned againsteach side of the base of the fence, forming thereby a ridge, E, for rthe purpose of raising up the ground underthe fence, so that it may be high and dry.

In the use of wires in the construction of fences, it has been found that'in consequence of the contrac tion of the metal, lcaused by thev changes in the temperature of the season, the wires are very liable to break or tear away from their fastenings; hence, to meet this contraction of the wires, and thereby save them from these accidents, it is proposed to meet this shortening u p of the wircs by a compensating medium, obtained by bending them *at the point immediately encircled by the hookof the spike, as indicated by the dotted lines a, g.'2.

This is done by driving the spike or hook so hard upon the wire jas to bend it and sink it slightly into' the pickets. T his deflection ofthe wire compensates for this shortening up by straightening, and thus adding to its length, thereby relieving the posts from the great strain which would be exerted upon them by the contraction of the wire; hence they will not break nor tear away from their fastenings. Another purpose is served by this bending the Wire, as above described, viz, the wire on being bent is set into the wood, which will contribute to prevent the pickets from any lateral displacement, thereby rendering the slats more secure in their place. What I claim as luy-improvement, and desire to sccureby Letters Patent, 'is- Thecornbination of two or more Wires, B, with the posts A and slats or pickets D, when secured thereto by means of the hook spikes C, as specified. D. S. HUMPHREY.

Witnesses:

W. H. Bussines, J. HOLMES. 

